Apparatus for washing and drying hands

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for washing and drying hands including a generally horizontal chamber having a defining wall, a central axis, an open end with an inwardly curved peripheral lip, a closed end, a top micro-spray nozzle arranged in the wall above the central axis, two side micro-spray nozzles arranged in the wall on opposed sides of the central axis, an air inlet arranged in the wall above the central axis, an air outlet arranged in the wall below the central axis, and two side air ducts exteriorly surrounding the wall to connect the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein in use liquid is sprayed from the top and side micro-spray nozzles to collectively establish a liquid curtain of micro-sprays across the central axis of the chamber, and air circulates within the chamber and recirculates around the chamber from the air outlet to the air inlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for washing and drying hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for washing and drying hands generally include a chamberprovided with sprays of water to wash the hands, and flows of drying airto dry them. Problems with existing apparatus include splashing ofwater, and blowing of air, outside the chamber. This leads toinefficient use of water and energy, as well as unhygienic contaminationof surrounding areas.

What is needed are apparatus for washing and drying hands which providefor more efficient and hygienic use of water and drying air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus forwashing and drying hands including a generally horizontal chamber havinga defining wall, a central axis, an open end with an inwardly curvedperipheral lip, a closed end, a top micro-spray nozzle arranged in thewall above the central axis, two side micro-spray nozzles arranged inthe wall on opposed sides of the central axis, an air inlet arranged inthe wall above the central axis, an air outlet arranged in the wallbelow the central axis, and two side air ducts exteriorly surroundingthe wall to connect the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein in useliquid is sprayed from the top and side micro-spray nozzles tocollectively establish a liquid curtain of micro-sprays across thecentral axis of the chamber, and air circulates within the chamber andrecirculates around the chamber from the air outlet to the air inlet.

The chamber can have a circular, oval or elliptical vertical crosssection.

The top and side micro-spray nozzles can each have a flat fan-shapedspray pattern. The top and side micro-spray nozzles can collectivelyestablish a flat fan-shaped spray pattern within a sector having asector angle of between 45 degrees and 180 degrees. The top and sidemicro-spray nozzles can be directed generally radially orthogonal to thecentral axis. For example, the top and side micro-spray nozzles can bedirected radially inwards at an angle of 88 degrees to the central axistowards the closed end.

The air inlet can be partially fluidly connected to a diverter havingtwo opposite facing air vents arranged in the chamber above the centralaxis, so that in use air is partially directed by the air vents towardthe wall in opposite transverse directions relative to the central axisto thereby circulate air rotationally within the chamber about axesparallel to the central axis.

The inwardly curved peripheral lip of the open end can be disposed aboutthe central axis within a sector having a sector angle of between 45degrees and 180 degrees. The inwardly curved peripheral lip is formed asa continuation of the wall of the chamber that terminates in a roundedend. In use, the inwardly curved peripheral lip restricts air flowingaxially out the open end of the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front cross sectional view of apparatus for washing anddrying hands of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the apparatus;

FIGS. 3( a) to 3(f) are respective front, side, front, plan, front andplan cross sectional views of the apparatus showing washing spraypatterns of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional plan view of the apparatus showing washingspray patterns of the apparatus;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front cross sectional views of the apparatus showingdrying air circulation of the apparatus; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side cross sectional views of the apparatus showingdrying air circulation of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 for washing and drying hands ofone embodiment of the invention includes a generally horizontal chamber12 defined by a wall 14. The chamber 12 has an elliptical shape invertical cross section with a longitudinal central axis A-A. The centralaxis A-A is, for example, slightly vertically inclined. The chamber 12may have other equivalent shapes in vertical cross section, for example,oval or circular. The chamber 12 has a closed end 16 and an open end 18sized and dimensioned to receive a pair of hands 20. The open end 18 hasan inwardly curved peripheral lip 22 disposed about the central axis A-Awithin a sector having a sector angle φ₁ of, for example, between 45degrees and 180 degrees. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inwardly curvedperipheral lip 22 can be formed as a continuation of the wall 14 of thechamber 12 that terminates in a rounded end 24 to minimise catching orcutting the hands 20. The chamber 12 is formed, for example, as anintegral moulding in plastics.

A top micro-spray nozzle 26 is arranged in the wall 14 above the centralaxis A-A, and side micro-spray nozzles 28, 30 are arranged in the wall14 on opposed sides of the central axis A-A. An air inlet 32 is arrangedin the wall 14 above the central axis A-A, and an air outlet 34 isarranged in the wall 14 below the central axis A-A. The air inlet 32 ispartially connected to a diverter 33 having two opposite facing airvents 36, 38 arranged in the chamber 12 above the central axis A-A. Theair vents 36, 38 are oriented toward the wall 14 in opposite directionsin a plane perpendicular to the central axis A-A. Two side air ducts 40,42 exteriorly surround the wall 14 to connect the air inlet 32 to theair outlet 34. A drain 44 is provided below the air outlet 34.

Washing liquid, for example water and/or liquid soap, is supplied underpressure to the top and side micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 via amanifold 46 which is fed from a reservoir 48. The washing liquid isdispensed in the form of micro-sprays, i.e. fine jets of relatively highpressure liquid. The washing liquid is pressurised by mains pressure ora pump (not shown), and is optionally heated by a water heater (notshown). Drying air is delivered from an air blower 50 to the air inlet32 by a conduit 52. The drying air is optionally heated by an air heater(not shown). A controller 56, for example a programmable logiccontroller, selectively controls the ancillary components of the chamber12 in response to a sensor 54, for example an optical sensor, sensinginsertion of the hands 20 through the open end 18 of the chamber 12. Thecontroller 56 is programmed to provide washing and drying cycles for thehands 20, and optionally a cleaning cycle for the chamber 12 betweensuccessive uses. A light (not shown) is also arranged in the wall 14above the central axis A-A to illuminate the interior of the chamber 12.The chamber 12 and its ancillary components are provided in a commonhousing 58.

Soap, for example liquid soap, is added to the washing liquid by eitherpouring it in from an external container, or inserting a liquid soappackage, for example a rupturable carton, into a soap chamber (notshown) in liquid communication with the washing liquid. The liquid soappackage is configured to be received in the chamber (not shown) suchthat it is pierced upon insertion, allowing the liquid soap to fill thechamber. Alternatively, soap in a solid form, such as a bar, can beinserted directly in the chamber 12, and the washing liquid isconfigured to run through the chamber 12 to add dissolved solid soap tothe washing liquid.

FIGS. 3( a) to 3(f) and 4 illustrate washing micro-spray patternsgenerated by the top and side micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 during awashing cycle of the apparatus 10. As best seen in FIGS. 3( a) to 3(f),the top and side nozzles 26, 28, 30 each have a flat fan-shaped spraypattern. The top and side micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 collectivelyestablish a liquid curtain of micro-sprays having a collective flatfan-shaped spray pattern within a sector having a sector angle φ₂ of,for example, between 45 degrees and 180 degrees. The top and sidemicro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 are directed generally radiallyorthogonal to the central axis A-A. To minimise or prevent liquidspraying exteriorly of the open end 18 of the chamber 12, the top andside micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 are directed radially inwards at anangle of 88 degrees to the central axis A-A towards the closed end 16.

In use, sensor 54 detects insertion of hands 20 inside the chamber 12.The controller 56 initiates the release of a quantity of soap, togetherwith a supply of water, to the manifold 46. The resulting soap and watermixture is sprayed out top and side micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 onto,around and over the hands 20. The orientation of the micro-spray nozzles26, 28, 30 creates a vortex of air by drawing air into the chamber 12minimise or prevent washing liquid spraying exteriorly of the open end18 of the chamber 12. As best seen in FIG. 4, collectively, the top andside micro-spray nozzles 26, 28, 30 establish a liquid curtain ofmicro-sprays across the central axis A-A of the chamber 12.

After a predetermined period, the controller 56 stops the supply ofwater and activates the 1.5 heater to supply drying air to the chamber12. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate drying air circulation provided to thechamber 12 during a drying cycle of the apparatus 10. As best seen inFIG. 5, drying air is partially supplied to the chamber 12 by the airinlet 32 perpendicular to the central axis A-A. In addition, drying airis partially directed by the air vents 36, 38 of the diverter 33 towardthe wall 14 in opposed transverse directions relative to the centralaxis A=A to thereby circulate the drying air rotationally within thechamber 12 about axes B-B and C-C which are generally parallel to thecentral axis A-A. Drying air is also recirculated exteriorly around thewall 14 of the chamber 12 from the air inlet 32 to the air outlet 34.While it is not intended to be bound to any particular theory, it isbelieved that the air currents about axes B-B and C-C are generated bythe air pressure of the drying air being forced down the constrainedconduit 52, from the fan 50, and then escaping the air inlet 32 into therelatively larger expanse of the curved wall chamber 12. This air thenhits the curved sides of the chamber wall 14, forcing the air to rotaterapidly.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inwardly curved peripheral lip 22restricts air from escaping between the hands axially out the open end18 of the chamber 12. As best seen in FIG. 6, the inwardly curved lip 22also interacts with drying air circulating within the chamber 12 togenerate smaller rotational air currents, or vortices, near the wall 14of the chamber 12. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the vortices of dryinginside the chamber 12 draw ambient air into the chamber 12 through theopen end 18. The ambient air mixes with drying air circulating withinthe chamber 12, and the mixed air is directed to the air outlet 34 andthen recirculated to the air inlet 32 by the side air ducts 40, 42.

It will be appreciated from the above description that embodiments ofthe invention provide for more efficient and hygienic use of washingliquid and drying air. This provides savings in operating costs in termsof water and energy.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only andmodifications are possible within the scope of the claims which follow.

1. Apparatus for washing and drying hands including a generallyhorizontal chamber having a defining wall, a central axis, an open endwith an inwardly curved peripheral lip, a closed end, a top micro-spraynozzle arranged in the wall above the central axis, two side micro-spraynozzles arranged in the wall on opposed sides of the central axis, anair inlet arranged in the wall above the central axis, an air outletarranged in the wall below the central axis, and two side air ductsexteriorly surrounding the wall to connect the air inlet to the airoutlet, wherein in use liquid is sprayed from the top and sidemicro-spray nozzles to collectively establish a liquid curtain ofmicro-sprays across the central axis of the chamber, and air circulateswithin the chamber and recirculates around the chamber from the airoutlet to the air inlet.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thechamber has a circular, oval or elliptical vertical cross section. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top and side micro-spraynozzles each have a flat fan-shaped spray pattern.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the top and side micro-spray nozzlescollectively establish a flat fan-shaped spray pattern within a sectorhaving a sector angle of between 45 degrees and 180 degrees. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the top and side micro-spraynozzles are directed generally radially orthogonal to the central axis.6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the top and side micro-spraynozzles are directed radially inwards at an angle of 88 degrees to thecentral axis towards the closed end.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the air inlet is partially fluidly connected to a diverterhaving two opposite facing air vents arranged in the chamber above thecentral axis, so that in use air is partially directed by the air ventstoward the wall in opposite transverse directions relative to thecentral axis to thereby circulate air rotationally within the chamberabout axes parallel to the central axis.
 8. Apparatus according to claim1, wherein the inwardly curved peripheral lip of the open end isdisposed about the central axis within a sector having a sector angle ofbetween 45 degrees and 180 degrees.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the inwardly curved peripheral lip can be formed as acontinuation of the wall of the chamber that terminates in a roundedend.
 10. Apparatus according claim 1, wherein in use, the inwardlycurved peripheral lip restricts air flowing axially out the open end ofthe chamber.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the top andside micro-spray nozzles each have a flat fan-shaped spray pattern. 12.Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the air inlet is partiallyfluidly connected to a diverter having two opposite facing air ventsarranged in the chamber above the central axis, so that in use air ispartially directed by the air vents toward the wall in oppositetransverse directions relative to the central axis to thereby circulateair rotationally within the chamber about axes parallel to the centralaxis.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inwardly curvedperipheral lip of the open end is disposed about the central axis withina sector having a sector angle of between 45 degrees and 180 degrees.14. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inwardly curvedperipheral lip can be formed as a continuation of the wall of thechamber that terminates in a rounded end.
 15. Apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein in use, the inwardly curved peripheral lip restrictsair flowing axially out the open end of the chamber.